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Mission Statement 

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) sustains the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the 

use and enjoyment of present and future generations. 

Authors 

Scott Guyer and Bruce Keating 

Cover 

A rolligon preparing the surface of an ice road at Puviaq exploratory drill site. 

Open File Reports 

Open file reports present the results of inventories or other investigations published outside the formal BLM-Alaska 

technical publication series. These reports can include preliminary or incomplete data and are not published and 

distributed in quantity. 

The reports are available while supplies last from BLM External Affairs, 222 West 7th Avenue, #13, Anchorage, 

Alaska 99513, (907) 271-3318, and from the Juneau Minerals Information Center, 100 Savikko Road, Mayflower 

Island, Douglas, AK 99824, (907) 364-1553. Copies are also available for inspection at the Alaska Resource 

Library and Information Service (Anchorage), the U.S. Department of the Interior Resources Library in Washington, 

D. C., various libraries of the University of Alaska, the BLM National Business Center Library (Denver), and other 

selected locations. 

A complete bibliography of all BLM-Alaska scientific reports can be found on the Internet at: 

http://www.ak.blm.gov/affairs/sci_rpts.html. 

Related publications are also listed at: 

http://juneau.ak.blm.gov. 
NPR-A Ice Roads i

The Impact of Ice Roads and Ice Pads
 

on Tundra Ecosystems,
 

National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A)
 

Scott Guyer and
 

Bruce Keating
 

BLM Open File Report 98
 

April 2005
 

U. S. Department of the Interior
 

Bureau of Land Management
 

Alaska State Office
 

222 W. 7th Ave., #13
 

Anchorage, AK 99513
 
ii NPR-A Ice Roads
Table of Contents
 

Table of Contents .......................................................................................................... v
 

List of Figures..............................................................................................................vii
 

Abstract .........................................................................................................................ix
 

Introduction ...................................................................................................................1
 

History..........................................................................................................................1
 

Historical Road Construction Techniques ....................................................................2
 

Ice Roads .......................................................................................................................2
 

Kik-Inigok Ice Road Construction Methods..................................................................3
 

2001 to 2002 Ice Roads Used for Comparison............................................................4
 

Imagery Analysis to Find the “As Built” Location..........................................................4
 

1979 and 2002 Image Differences ..............................................................................5
 

Field Methodology .........................................................................................................5
 

Logistics .......................................................................................................................5
 

Techniques ..................................................................................................................5
 

Finding the Nearly Invisible Road ................................................................................6
 

Field Procedures..........................................................................................................7
 

Profiles and Permafrost Transects ..............................................................................7
 

Vegetation Condition....................................................................................................8
 

Puviaq Ice Road and Ice Pad........................................................................................9
 

Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 11
 

Recommendations ..................................................................................................... 11
 

Acknowledgements....................................................................................................12
 

References ...................................................................................................................12
 

Appendix A-1................................................................................................................15
 

Appendix A-2................................................................................................................19
 

Appendix A-3................................................................................................................37
 

NPR-A Ice Roads iii 
iv NPR-A Ice Roads 
List of Figures
 

Figure 1. 1978 Kik-Inigok ice road study area ................................................................1
 

Figure 2. Historic peat road photographed in 2002 ........................................................2
 

Figure 3. Gravel roads in Prudhoe Bay area (2002).......................................................2
 

Figure 4. Ice road trace (2002).......................................................................................2
 

Figure 5. Balloon tires on rolligon trucks provide low impact ..........................................3
 

Figure 6. Gravel was hauled each day in two 10-hours shifts ........................................3
 

Figure 7. Water added to ice road layer .........................................................................4
 

Figure 8. Ublutuoch River crossing ................................................................................4
 

Figure 9. “As built” location vs. planned location ............................................................5
 

Figure 10. 2002 photo of ice road trace ..........................................................................5
 

Figure 11. Non-impacted tundra adjacent to the ice road trace.......................................6
 

Figure 12. Depth to permafrost measurements using the Laser Alignment LB-9 ............7
 

Figure 13. Cross section of depth to permafrost data .....................................................8
 

Figure 14. Tussocks outside ice road ..............................................................................8
 

Figure 15. Tussocks impacted by ice road ......................................................................8
 

Figure 16. Wetland sites in the ice road trace .................................................................9
 

Figure 17. Ice road trace visible in 1979 photo ...............................................................9
 

Figure 18. No trace visible on the July 2002 photo .........................................................9
 

Figure 19. Rolligon with water tanks preparing to spray road........................................10
 

Figure 20. Oil drill rig under construction .......................................................................10
 

Figure 21. Rolligon parked on the ice pad with oil catchment .......................................10
 

Figure 22. Puviaq test well and ice pad in March 2003 ................................................. 11
 

Figure 23. Puviaq well head in July 2003 ...................................................................... 11
 

Figure 24. Pink plume (Polygonum bistorta) .................................................................12
 

Figure 25. A caribou cow and calf visit one of the study plots .......................................13
 

NPR-A Ice Roads v 
vi NPR-A Ice Roads 
Abstract
 

Since the early 1970s, oil companies have been using ice roads to support exploratory drilling in 

the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). Ice roads are constructed by harvesting 

available ice and snow from lakes to form a road base and using tankers to spray water on the 

base to build up an ice surface. The use of ice roads by the petroleum industry alleviates the 

environmental impacts and high costs of gravel roads. 

In 1978, a 37.5-mile ice road was built from the Kikiakrorak River to the Inigok drill site. This 

Kik-Inigok road required 35 million gallons of water for construction and maintenance and was 

utilized for trucking 132,000 tons of gravel to the Inigok drill site from the Kikiakrorak gravel 

pit. The ice road averaged 30 feet in width, and varied from 6 to 14 inches in thickness. 

Studies were conducted by the Bureau of Land Management during the summer of 2001 and 

2002 on ground disturbance caused by the construction of ice roads in NPR-A. Color infrared 

(CIR) photography taken in 1979 and 2002 was used to identify and locate ice road traces. The 

impacts of two single-season ice roads constructed in 2001 and one single-season ice road 

constructed in 2002 were compared to the single-season 1978 Kik-Inigok ice road. Random 

sample transects were located across each ice road trace, and each transect included impacted and 

non-impacted areas. Data was gathered from each transect on the profiles of the surface terrain, 

depth to permafrost, vegetation composition and vegetation damage. Equipment used to gather 

data included a Trimble ProXR GPS receiver and a Laser Alignment LB-9 (laser leveler). 

Surface elevation and depth to permafrost were recorded every two meters across each transect. 

Results of permafrost profiles showed no significant difference in the depth to permafrost 

between the 1978 and the 2001 and 2002 ice roads. The 2001 and 2002 ice roads did, however, 

show damage to vegetation, with impacts to shrubs, forbs, and tussocks. These impacts were 

more significant on higher, drier sites; little to no evidence of damage was observed in wetlands. 

Transects across the 1978 Kik-Inigok ice road showed no evidence of damage to shrubs, forbs, or 

tussocks, all of which were vigorous and in good condition. 

This data supports the conclusion that a single-season ice road can completely recover and return 

to its natural state in at least a 24-year period. Because of the greater impacts associated with 

tussock tundra uplands, future ice roads planning should concentrate on locating roads in wetland 

areas. 

NPR-A Ice Roads vii 
viii NPR-A Ice Roads 
 

The Impact of Ice Roads and
 

Ice Pads on Tundra Ecosystems, National
 

Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A)
 

Introduction 

This report summarizes the findings of a 

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) study to 

examine the effects of new oil and gas 

exploratory drilling support technologies in 

the Arctic. In 2000 a group of senior 

government executives from the BLM, U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service, National 

Reconnaissance Office, National GeospatialIntelligence Agency, and U.S. Geological 

Survey (USGS) traveled to the National 

Petroleum Reserve-Alaska to observe these 

technologies, which include the use of ice 

roads and ice drill pads.1 As the BLM 

currently evaluates the effects of ice roads on 

tundra ecosystems, USGS representatives 

recommended that the BLM examine the 

recovery of the Kik-Inigok ice road, a singleseason ice road constructed in 1978 that ran 

between the Inigok test well and the 

confluence of the Kikiakrorak (Kik) River 

with the Colville River (Figure 1). 

History 

In 1923 President Warren G. Harding created 

the Naval Petroleum Reserve as a defensive 

measure to provide a future supply of oil for 

the U.S. Navy. By the 1970s the Navy’s 

requirement for oil as fuel for powering ships 

was small in comparison to the nation’s need 

for automobile fuel. In 1976 President Gerald 

Ford signed P.L. 94-258 into law, which 

transferred management of the reserve from 

Figure 1. 

1978 Kik-Inigok

 ice road study

 area. 

NPR-A Ice Roads 1 
 the Navy to the Department of the Interior and 

renamed the area as the National Petroleum 

Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). Petroleum 

production and exploration within the reserve 

was authorized by Congress in December 

1980 with the stipulation that any exploration 

in the reserve be conducted in a manner that 

would assure the maximum protection of the 

area’s unique fish, recreation, and wildlife 

values. 

Historical Road Construction 

Techniques 

Historic Arctic construction transportation 

methods such as tundra peat roads (Figure 2) 

and gravel roads (Figure 3) have resulted 

insignificant long-term environmental effects 

Figure 2. Historic peat road photographed in 2002. 

Figure 3. Gravel roads in Prudhoe Bay area (2002). 

(tundra peeling led to the discontinuation of 

peat road construction in 1969).4 This study 

focused on the effects of ice roads after the ice 

has melted when only a “trace” of the road 

remains on the tundra surface. This signature 

or trace is easily identified on imagery taken 

in the first few years after road construction. 

The trace is caused by delayed plant 

phenology, plant stress, thermal freezing of 

plant tissues, and the physical impact from ice 

road construction (Figure 4). 

Figure 4. Ice road trace (2002). 

Ice Roads 

The BLM requires that oil and gas exploration 

and drilling activities be conducted in the 

winter to reduce impacts to the environment. 

Ice roads and ice drill pads are utilized 

extensively for exploration drilling and 

support work in NPR-A. Ice roads have been 

used for many years in the Arctic to provide 

physical access for equipment, supplies, and 

personnel, and to reduce surface impacts 

(Figure 5). Ice roads limit the impact to the 

environment as compared to the construction 

of thick gravel roads and gravel pads; 

however, there has been little evaluation of the 

long-term effects of ice roads and ice pads on 

tundra environments within NPR-A. 

2 NPR-A Ice Roads 
U.S.G.S. Professional Paper 1399, (1988) pg. 30

 

Figure 5. Balloon tires on rolligon trucks provide 

low impact. 

Kik-Inigok Ice Road Construction 

Methods 

Information on the Kik-Inigok ice road was 

derived from a 1978 USGS/BLM 

Environmental Assessment (EA), a 1977 

Annual Plan of Operations, and a 1983 postconstruction report (References 2, 7, and 8). 

Unfortunately, there were no “as built” maps 

or photographs, nor was there an evaluation of 

the road site after the ice melted the following 

summer. 

The 37.5 mile Kik-Inigok ice road began near 

a gravel barrow pit on a river bar on the west 

branch of the Colville River. The road 

continued from this gravel bar north to the 

confluence of the Kikiakrorak River and 

extended all the way to the Inigok test well. 

The 1978 EA stated that the ice road would be 

about 30 feet in width with a minimum of 6 

inches of ice on level areas and thicker ice on 

grades and at drainage crossings. During high 

use periods, additional maintenance would be 

performed and the ice road would be built up 

to 12-14 inches.7 The EA also required that 

extreme care be taken to avoid damaging the 

tundra, and included prohibitions on clipping 

tussocks or the tops of polygonal ridges. 

The ice road building period started on 

February 1, 1978, on a steep bluff overlooking 

the Kikiakrorak River barrow pit. On 

February 13, 1978, a second crew mobilized 

at the east end of the road and worked toward 

the mid-point of the 37.5-mile long ice road.8 

The ice road was estimated to be 75 percent 

complete by the end of February and the 

2 gravel haul was started on March 9, 1978. 

Thirty-five million gallons of water were 

spread along the road alignment.2 In addition, 

between 400,000 and 600,000 gallons of 

additional water were placed each day until 

early April to repair tension cracks and surface 

sapling so a smooth running surface could be 

maintained.2 The gravel haul included 20- and 

25-cubic yard trucks pulling 10-yard pony 

trailers. Roughly 2,500-3,000 cubic yards of 

gravel were moved per day for the 

construction of a C-130 airstrip and the Inigok 

drill pad. On April 15, 1978, the gravel haul 

from the Kikiakrorak River barrow pit to the 

well site was complete.2 During the 38-day 

haul period approximately 88,000 trips were 

made with dump truck and trailer loads 

exceeding 65 metric tons (mt). Peak two-way 

daily metric tonnage exceeded 10,000 mt for 

the gravel haul (Figure 6). Replenishment and 

Figure 6. Gravel was hauled each day in two10-hour shifts. 

NPR-A Ice Roads 3 
 

Figure 7. Water added to ice road layer. 

maintenance of the ice required the daily 

transport of ±1,800 mt of water along the 37.5 

miles of ice road (Figure 7). 

2001 and 2002 Ice Roads Used for 

Comparison 

Detailed field analysis from the 1970s on ice 

road impacts to tundra did not include analysis 

of the Kik-Inigok ice road area. As the BLM 

was already examining impacts from recentlybuilt ice roads in NPR-A, vegetative recovery 

on two recent single-season ice roads (one 

constructed in 2001 and the other in 2002) was 

compared to recovery on the 1978 Kik-Inigok 

ice road. The 2001 and 2002 ice roads were 

located at the crossing of the Ublutuoch River 

25 miles north of the 1978 Kik-Inigok road. 

Both the 2001 and 2002 roads were used to 

access new exploratory sites encompassing 

similar classes of vegetation (Figure 8). 

Though some of the ice roads recently 

constructed in NPR-A have been built each 

year at the same location for up to three years 

in a row, current preliminary studies show 

minimal differences in cumulative impacts to 

vegetation between locations used in 

successive years and locations used for singleseason roads.9 

Imagery Analysis to Find the “As 

Built” Location 

Initial attempts in July 2001 to find the KikInigok ice road location using the 1977-78 

planning maps were unsuccessful as the 

engineering topographic maps reflected the 

“as planned” road location, not the “as built” 

location. 8 The road was also difficult to 

locate because of its faint to non-existent 

signature on the ground after 24 years of 

vegetation recovery. 

In the late 1970s, NASA photographed the 

majority of the state of Alaska in a color 

infrared (CIR) format as part of the Alaska 

High Altitude Photography (AHAP) program. 

The area encompassing the Kik-Inigok ice 

road was photographed in 1979, 18 months 

after construction of the road. To examine 

the 1979 CIR imagery, the original 1:63,360 

film was found at the Aerial Photographic 

Field Office in the Salt Lake City archives.5 

Twelve 9-by-9 inch, emulsion 2443, CIR film 

originals were scanned at 14 microns to 

capture the film detail. These large, 790 MB 

digital files were analyzed in ERDAS 

IMAGINE image processing software. 

Examination of these files, as well as review 

Figure 8. Ublutuoch RIver crossing 

4 NPR-A Ice Roads 
 

Figure 9. “As built” location vs. planned location. 

of the EA, operational plan, and postconstruction report (References 2, 7, and 8), 

led to the location and mapping of the KikInigok ice road trace (Figure 9). The “as built” 

location was up to a half mile off the location 

identified in the Inigok planning topographic 

map. Nineteen sample sites were selected 

from the Kik barrow pit to Judy Creek 

(halfway to the Inigok well site). 

Approximate coordinates, ± 50 meters, were 

derived for these sites using the CIR imagery 

and digital raster graphics of the 1:63,360 

USGS topographic maps. 

1979 and 2002 Image Differences 

In July 2002 the Kik-Inigok ice road location 

was flown with CIR aerial photography to 

collect NPR-A baseline data. Interferometric 

Synthetic Aperture Radar (IFSAR) was also 

obtained to map the terrain with a 2.5-meter 

posting and provide an image map that would 

assist in field efforts.3 Although the 2002 CIR 

imagery was of a larger scale than the 1979 

CIR imagery, it was still beneficial in 

analyzing the Kik-Inigok ice road trace. The 

1:40,000-scale imagery was scanned at 16 

microns, about ±0.6 meters on the ground. 

Field Methology 

Field methodology was designed around 

previous BLM experience in evaluation of 

linear features on tundra environments. 

During the 2002 field investigation, the KikInigok ice road location was evaluated using 

on-site vegetation and depth to permafrost 

transects. Six transects on the 1978 ice road 

were compared to eleven transects on the 

2001 and 2002 ice roads that fell within the 

same vegetation class and use profile as those 

on the 1978 ice road (Figure 10). 

Figure 10. 2002 photo of ice road trace. 

Logistics 

Kuparuk Operations Center was selected as 

the base for field logistics due to helicopter 

fuel availability and capability of the location 

to support long-day field operations. An 

Aerospatiale, AS 350, A-Star helicopter was 

selected as the mode of transportation due to 

its long range field crew and equipment 

carrying capacity. The investigation crew was 

comprised of a remote sensing scientist, 

botanist, geographer, and pilot. 

Techniques 

Funding and time constraints limited 

fieldwork to six transects located in the 

NPR-A Ice Roads 5 
eastern third of the Kik-Inigok route (Figure 

11). Global Positioning System (GPS) 

navigation coordinates were derived from the 

AHAP imagery and topographic maps to 

navigate the helicopter to the six transect sites. 

An experimental Wide Area Augmentation 

System (WAAS)-capable Trimble 

ProXRreceiver, which calculated real-time 

differential coordinates from the WAAS and 

GPS satellite signals, was utilized in acquiring 

the site positions. The WAAS technology was 

first tested with a known survey monument to 

verify the technology’s adequacy at high 

latitudes. A location for the monument was 

obtained, and coordinates within ±1.5 meters 

of a known monument were located at 70° 

north latitude. 

Coordinates at the end of each transect were 

documented with an average of 60-200 

WAAS differential positions as the Trimble 

system was not capable of post-processing in 

the WAAS mode (Appendix A-1). 

Finding the Nearly Invisible Road 

Using the 1979 CIR imagery as a mapping 

base, six Kik-Inigok ice road transect sites 

were randomly selected along the ice road 

trace. Locating these sites from the helicopter 

during the field examination phase was 

difficult due to the lack of identifiable 

evidence of the ice road’s existence. When in 

the vicinity of the estimated site coordinates, 

the 1979 CIR aerial photo enlargements were 

used to identify surface features near the ice 

road location. Once on the ground these 

enlargements were further used to locate each 

of the transects. Despite the difficulties in 

visually locating the trace, the field team was 

confident they had located the road due to the 

high quality of the 1979 CIR imagery and the 

photo interpretation skills of the team 

members. This confidence was confirmed 

when steel rebar survey stakes from the initial 

road survey were found along the estimated 

centerline of the road on five of the six 

transects. 

Figure 11. 

Non-impacted 

tundra adjacent 

to the ice road 

trace was 

included in the 

study. 

6 NPR-A Ice Roads 
Field Procedures 

Tundra that had not been covered by ice roads 

was included in the study by placing 

temporary stakes about 30-40 meters beyond 

the estimated edge of the ice road. The 

Tremble ProXR GPS equipment was set up at 

each transect end point to determine an 

accurate transect location. The sending unit 

of the Laser Alignment LB-9 Laser Beacon 

was placed near the centerline at an elevation 

where the rod/sensor could receive the signal, 

and elevation measurement differences were 

recorded across the entire transect. The Laser 

Beacon used a daylight receiving sensor that 

produced an audio and visual signal as one 

approached the level measurement point on 

the rod. The system had a range of 300 

meters and was vertically accurate to 

±0.75mm (Figure 12). Surface elevation and 

depth to permafrost measurements were 

Figure 12. Depth to permafrost measurements 

using the Laser Alignment LB-9 Laser Beacon. 

recorded every 2 meters across each transect. 

A “T” shaped steel rod was driven into the 

tundra to measure depth to permafrost. 

The relative surface elevation provided a 

terrain profile and a sub-surface measurement 

profile of the active permafrost layer. The 

laser level technique removed some of the 

micro-terrain bias caused by the local tundra 

relief, which can make local permafrost trends 

difficult to analyze. Measurements made on 

the 2001 and 2002 ice road traces were 

identical to those made on the 1978 ice road 

trace (Appendices A-1 and A-2). 

Vegetation surveys were also performed on 

each transect to identify vegetation species. 

Visual cover estimates were recorded along 

each transect covering the ice road and the 

control area adjacent to the ice road. 

Vegetation stratum, percent cover, and a 

severity index to identify damage or stress to 

vegetation were also collected (Appendix A3). 

Profile and Permafrost Transects 

Analysis of the profile data showed that there 

was no significant variation in terrain or 

permafrost profiles on the Kik-Inigok 

transects (Appendix A-2). The average 

permafrost depth was 31.54 centimeters (cm), 

with a range of 20-83 cm for the Kik-Inigok 

road and 31.41 cm for the 2001 and 2002 ice 

road traces (Figure 13). There was a 2.5 cm 

increase in the average permafrost active area 

from the 2001 trace to the 2002 trace. 

Transects on the 2001 and 2002 traces also 

showed a slightly greater depth to permafrost 

compared to the profiles on the 1978 

transects; however, analysis determined these 

differences were not statistically significant 

(Appendix A-2). 

NPR-A Ice Roads 7 
Inigok G Transect Cross Section 

0 

50 

100 

150 

200 

250 

10 20 30 40 50 60 

Meters Across Ice Road Trace 

Profile in Centimenters 

Permafrost Active Thaw Area 

Surface Profile 

Permafrost 

Average permafrost depth: 32.6cm 

Permafrost Range 19 to 56cm 

Date: July 29, 2002 

Depth to Permafrost 

Figure 13. Cross section of depth to permafrost data. 

Vegetation Condition 

Vegetation data collected on the 2001 and 

2002 ice road traces showed significant 

impacts from physical and thermal (freezing) 

damage to grasses, shrubs, forbs, and 

bryophytes, with the most significant impacts 

occurring to cotton grass (Eriophorum 

vaginatum), the most abundant plant on each 

transect location (Figures 14 and 15). The 

dominant shrubs found on these sites were 

Salix planifolia, Cassiope tetragona, and 

Vaccinium vitus-idea, all of which displayed 

significant stress and decrease in plant size. 

While the upland cotton grass tussock tundra 

areas showed a high degree of impact, 

adjacent low lying wetland areas displayed 

little or no impact from ice road construction 

(Figure 16). These wetlands are seasonally 

inundated with water and the plants are 

already frozen and encased in ice before ice 

road construction begins. Plants in these 

wetland areas (ex. Carex aquatilis, 

Eriophorum angustifolium) are naturally 

accustomed to surviving ice conditions, while 

drier upland sites not accustomed to being 

frozen in ice showed the greatest degree of 

impact from ice roads. 

Figures 14 and 15. Tussocks outside ice road (left). Tussocks impacted by ice road (right). 

8 NPR-A Ice Roads 
Figure 16. Wetland sites in the ice road trace 

showed no impact from construction. 

Examination and comparison of aerial 

photography showed dramatic differences: the 

1978 ice road, which was easily identified in 

the 1979 CIR imagery, was almost 

imperceptible on the 2002 CIR imagery 

(Figures 17 and 18).6 Along the nine miles of 

ice road trace that were photometrically 

reviewed on the 2002 CIR images, a slight 

linear feature could only be identified in two 

short locations. Further on-the-ground 

examination of the six vegetation transects on 

the Kik-Inigok ice road trace showed no 

tundra damage or evidence of the ice road’s 

existence. Cotton grass tussocks were healthy, 

intact, and showed normal spacing and 

structure. Shrub species Salix planifolia, 

Cassiope tetragona, and Vaccinium vitus-idea 

were vigorous and had completely recovered 

(Appendix A-3). 

For this project we defined “recovery” as 

achieving a return of overall plant cover to 

normal or characteristic levels. The 

comparison of data collected along the 

undisturbed areas adjacent to the ice roads 

served as indicators for plant composition for 

each class of vegetation. However, it is 

understood that plant composition or growth 

form may show minor shifts or changes over 

time as plants recover. Full recovery would 

be defined as plants and other environmental 

characteristics returning to pre-ice road 

conditions. 

Puviaq Ice Road and Ice Pad 

In March of 2003 BLM researchers toured the 

Puviaq exploratory well to examine the 

exploration facilities and equipment and the 

construction and maintenance of an ice road 

and ice pad. Two rolligon were in operation 

to provide water for building and maintaining 

the ice road and an ice airstrip (constructed 

using the same techniques as an ice road) near 

Figures 17 and 18. Ice road trace visible in 1979 photo (left); no trace visible on the July 2002 photo (right). 

NPR-A Ice Roads 9 
Figure 19. Rolligon with water tanks preparing to 

spray road. 

the Puviaq ice pad. Each hauled a double 

trailer with two large water tanks that were 

used to siphon water from a nearby 

lake. Once the tanks were filled, the rolligons 

traveled adjacent to the ice road and sprayed 

water on the road to fill cracks and increase 

the ice thickness (Figure 19). Under the 

conditions on the day of the visit 

(temperatures were minus 12 degrees 

Fahrenheit), the water on the ice road froze 

solid in about 15 minutes. The ice road and 

ice airstrip were used extensively by trucks 

equipped with regular tires to transport 

personnel and equipment. 

Figure 20. Oil drill rig under construction. 

The 500 by 500 square foot Puviaq ice pad, 

which was approximately two feet thick, 

provided the base for drilling operations. The 

pad housed personnel in modular buildings 

that included offices, bunk rooms, and a 

kitchen, as well as exploratory equipment, 

high powered generators, and an oil derrick 

that was being constructed at the time of the 

visit (Figure 20). 

Figure 21. 

Rolligon parked 

on the ice pad 

with oil catchment. 

Catchments were placed under rolligons and 

trucks when they were parked on the ice pad 

to insure that no oil leaked from the vehicles 

onto the pad (Figure 21). In the spring after 

the equipment was removed from the ice pad, 

the top four inches of the pad were shaved off 

and filtered to insure no oil or debris were left 

to melt into the tundra. 

In July 2003 BLM researchers revisited the 

Puviaq exploratory well area to examine the 

impact of the ice pad, ice road, and ice airstrip 

on the tundra and associated permafrost. 

Exceedingly high winds in excess of 60 miles 

per hour limited the length of time available to 

collect depth to permafrost data and conduct 

10 NPR-A Ice Roads 
Figures 22 and 23. Puviaq test well and ice drill pad in March 2003 (left) and in July 2003 with only well head remaining (right). 

vegetation transects across the ice pad and ice 

road; however, the initial examination of the 

site showed limited impacts to the tundra 

from the ice pad and ice road construction 

similar to the limited impacts of the 2001 and 

2002 ice roads (Figures 22 and 23). No 

evidence of physical damage to tussocks, such 

as clipping or knocking over of tussocks, was 

found. The reason these types of physical 

impacts did not occur could be attributed to 

the relative flatness of the terrain around 

Puviaq or could have been a result of 

improved ice road construction techniques. 

Conclusions 

Data analysis showed that a single-season ice 

road, such as the Kik-Inigok ice road, will 

recover naturally with no apparent long-term 

environmental effects. Field examination of 

the Kik-Inigok road showed that it was almost 

impossible to find any indication that an ice 

road existed after two decades of recovery. 

On more recently-constructed ice roads, little 

or no damage occurred on wetland or wet 

tundra sites. Vegetation in these wet areas 

naturally freezes under ice during the winter 

months and shows no impact from the 

accumulation of additional ice from road 

construction. Upland plant species that are 

subjected to encasement in ice during ice road 

construction showed a significant impact that 

resulted in the reduction of live plant tissues. 

This ice environment significantly reduced the 

percent cover of shrubs and grass species 

within the ice road trace. There is no 

evidence from this study to suggest that the 

length of time that the ice road is in place or 

the amount of weight hauled or volume of use 

on the road has any additional impact to the 

vegetation. While ice roads were found to 

cause some short-term tundra damage, this 

study showed that there was virtually no longterm impact after 24 years of recovery. 

Recommendations 

Specific recommendations for future ice road 

construction include: 

1. Continue to study cumulative effects of 

building ice roads in the same locations. 

Several years of rest increases natural 

NPR-A Ice Roads 11
recovery. Where consecutive-season roads are 

built, the vegetation phenology is delayed to 

the level of potential long-term vegetation 

modification, an effect that was observable 

where recent ice road traces overlapped in 

subsequent years. In some predominant shrub 

locations, such as at stream crossings, it may 

be better to build the road in the same location 

to minimize the area of long-term disturbance. 

2. Build ice roads in the wettest 

locations. Field analysis and 

observation revealed that there was 

little to no damage resulting from ice 

roads constructed in standing water 

and wetland sites (Figure 24). 

3. Avoid tussock clipping and the clipping 

of the edges of low centered polygons. 

Although physical damage from clipping 

tussock tundra sites was found to comprise 

only a small portion of the impact from ice 

road construction, this type of damage 

requires a much longer recovery period than 

the more widespread impact caused by 

freezing plant tissues. 

4. Avoid shrub sites and vegetation classes 

where shrubs are dominant. Data showed 

that ice road construction impacted shrubs and 

other woody species more than it impacted 

any other vegetation type. 

5. Develop long-term monitoring sites to 

better monitor ice road effects and recovery 

of tundra (Figure 25). 

Figure 24. Pink plume (Polygonum bistorta). 

Acknowledgements 

The authors would like to acknowledge James 

F. Devine, Senior Advisor for Science 

Applications, USGS, for his interest in the 

project and support in obtaining USGS 

historic documents on the Inigok operation. 

We would also like to acknowledge Henri R. 

Bisson, BLM Alaska State Director, and Fran 

Cherry (retired), former BLM Alaska State 

Director, for their support for this study. Terry 

Hobbs, BLM Oregon State Office, Lynette 

Nakazawa and Christopher Noyles, BLM 

Alaska State Office, provided valuable field 

Assistance. We would also like to thank Ed 

Harne, BLM Washington Office and John 

Payne, BLM Alaska State Office, Frank 

Toomer and Steve Wiles, for their technical 

expertise in the remote sensing portion of this 

project. 

12 NPR-A Ice Roads 
 

References 

1.	 Hazen, Beez. 1997. Use of ice roads 

and ice pads for Alaskan arctic oil 

exploration projects. Paper presented at 

the NPR-A Symposium, April 16-18, 

1997, Anchorage, Alaska, http:// 

www.ndo.ak.blm.gov/npra/sympos/html/ 

paper3.html. 

2.	 Husky Oil NPR Operations. 1983. 

Design and construction of the Inigok 

wellsite, contract no. 14-18-001-16474. 

Unreviewed compliance report prepared 

for USGS. September 1983. 

3. Intermap Technologies. 2002. 

Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar 

(IFSAR) magnitude image supplied as 

part of USGS NPR-A mapping project. 

4.	 Streever, Bill. 2001. Tundra 

revegetation in Alaska’s arctic. BP 

technical brief, BP Exploration (Alaska) 

Inc. 

5.	 U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Aerial Photography Field Office. 1979. 

Figure 25. A caribou cow and calf visit one of the study plots. 

Alaska high altitude aerial photography, 

1:63,360 color IR aerial photography. 

Salt Lake City, Utah. 

6.	 U.S. Department of the Interior. U.S. 

Geological Survey. Earth Resources 

Observation Systems (EROS) Data 

Center. Forthcoming. 2002 Alaska 

aerial photography, 1:40,000 color IR 

aerial photography. 

7.	 U.S. Department of the Interior. U.S. 

Geological Survey and Bureau of Land 

Management. 1977. Annual plan of 

operations, National Petroleum Reserve 

in Alaska, 1977-1978 season. November 

30, 1977. 

8.	 U.S. Department of the Interior. U.S. 

Geological Survey and Bureau of Land 

Management. 1978. National Petroleum 

Reserve in Alaska environmental 

assessment, Inigok test well no. 1, 1978-

79. February. 

9.	 Yokel, Dave, Darek Huebner, and Jay 

Ver Hoef. Forthcoming. Overlapping 

versus offsetting ice road routes from 

year to year. Proceedings from the 

workshop on the impacts of winter 

exploration activity on tundra soils and 

vegetation of Alaska’s north slope, 

January 14-15, 2003, Fairbanks, Alaska. 

NPR-A Ice Roads 13 
14 NPR-A Ice Roads 
Appendix A-1
 

Transect Location Data 

NPR-A Ice Roads 15 
 

 

 

GPS Locations for Ice Road Transects
 

Data corrected against CORS Central 

Transect Latitude Longitude MLS 

Name deg/min/seconds north deg/min/seconds west (meters) Date Time 

Misc 13 70 14 20.0384 + 151 16 23.2928 - 8.268 8/2/2001 11:43:16 

Misc 12 70 14 19.9851 + 151 16 23.3433 - 9.57 8/2/2001 11:56:32 

D-T18 70 14 33.0825 + 151 18 8.908 - 5.128 7/31/2001 14:18:10 

D-T17 70 14 31.9517 + 151 18 11.6284 - 6.238 7/31/2001 14:25:52 

D-T20 70 14 34.8631 + 151 18 14.7817 - 3.636 7/31/2001 14:42:49 

D-T19 70 14 33.1955 + 151 18 17.6421 - 7.22 7/31/2001 14:50:44 

D-T22 70 14 36.5219 + 151 18 29.1211 - 8.69 7/31/2001 15:24:17 

D-T21 70 14 34.2338 + 151 18 30.6554 - 7.038 7/31/2001 15:32:56 

D-T07 70 14 29.4739 + 151 15 42.421 - 9.698 7/31/2001 16:11:14 

D-T08 70 14 30.1167 + 151 15 48.7884 - 8.527 7/31/2001 16:21:53 

D-T05 70 14 33.8724 + 151 15 39.5929 - 7.279 7/31/2001 16:36:50 

D-T06 70 14 33.9936 + 151 15 45.6761 - 8.242 7/31/2001 16:45:56 

D-T10 70 14 39.2076 + 151 16 1.4682 - 7.745 7/31/2001 17:10:20 

D-T09 70 14 37.4712 + 151 16 1.9182 - 6.274 7/31/2001 17:17:49 

D-T01 70 14 45.9522 + 151 15 7.2521 - 13.002 8/1/2001 9:52:37 

D-T02 70 14 47.6156 + 151 15 9.6247 - 11.504 8/1/2001 9:59:22 

D-T04 70 14 49.3465 + 151 15 17.1565 - 9.134 8/1/2001 10:15:09 

D-T03 70 14 48.0522 + 151 15 13.4379 - 10.33 8/1/2001 10:26:20 

Misc 1 70 14 39.6628 + 151 15 4.4668 - 7.932 8/1/2001 10:48:18 

Misc 2 

D-T25 

70 

70 

14 

14 

41.2896 

17.6647 

+ 

+ 

151 

151 

15 

19 

6.3594 

39.5596 

-

-

9.474 8/1/2001 

14.867 8/1/2001 

10:57:01 

11:33:31 

D-T26 70 14 19.0711 + 151 19 43.5079 - 9.889 8/1/2001 11:46:24 

D-T23 70 14 25.0901 + 151 19 15.8536 - 9.528 8/1/2001 12:04:47 

D-T24 70 14 26.7957 + 151 19 20.4638 - 11.733 8/1/2001 12:11:52 

D-T27 70 14 15.5894 + 151 19 53.5308 - 16.511 8/1/2001 12:38:49 

D-T28 70 14 17.5679 + 151 19 54.7607 - 14.76 8/1/2001 12:48:27 

Misc 15 70 14 19.0421 + 151 18 21.8219 - 10.677 8/2/2001 10:18:57 

Misc 14 70 14 43.8938 + 151 17 53.8404 - 8.334 8/2/2001 10:56:47 

D-T16 70 14 32.274 + 151 17 43.9073 - 3.007 7/31/2001 10:17:18 

D-T15 70 14 30.6758 + 151 17 42.4231 - 4.813 7/31/2001 10:25:41 

D-T14 70 14 35.1202 + 151 17 10.9374 - 6.088 7/31/2001 11:09:16 

D-T13 70 14 32.9231 + 151 17 9.4826 - 5.685 7/31/2001 11:23:49 

D-T12 70 14 37.2257 + 151 16 38.3037 - 7.162 7/31/2001 11:51:45 

D-T11 70 14 35.3018 + 151 16 37.3749 - 9.008 7/31/2001 12:01:03 

D-23 70 14 32.0424 + 151 16 42.7897 - 9.049 7/31/2001 12:13:56 

16 NPR-A Ice Roads 
 

Transect Total Standard Deviation Horizontal Precision Vertical Precision 

Name Positions (meters) (meters) 68% (meters) 68% 

Misc 13 159 3.308075 1.118 2.298 

Misc 12 142 0.306972 1.108 2.081 

D-T18 69 0.221663 1.064 2.106 

D-T17 88 0.31794 1.042 2.099 

D-T20 63 0.25908 1.247 2.603 

D-T19 89 0.48752 1.231 2.436 

D-T22 72 0.338285 1.307 2.396 

D-T21 68 0.536939 1.316 2.573 

D-T07 93 0.432372 1.508 2.829 

D-T08 61 0.24691 1.316 2.675 

D-T05 76 0.334551 1.336 2.423 

D-T06 69 0.727668 1.193 2.059 

D-T10 70 0.407748 1.927 2.848 

D-T09 66 1.039112 1.398 2.223 

D-T01 62 0.21782 1.314 3.15 

D-T02 63 0.504134 1.294 2.893 

D-T04 78 0.393733 1.159 2.235 

D-T03 46 0.630407 1.174 2.317 

Misc 1 89 0.299151 1.049 2.072 

Misc 2 126 0.508315 1.1 2.326 

D-T25 114 0.289077 1.098 2.573 

D-T26 61 0.255946 1.113 2.427 

D-T23 60 0.421526 1.199 2.198 

D-T24 61 0.992069 1.198 2.308 

D-T27 91 0.3986 1.306 2.387 

D-T28 60 0.435603 1.365 2.303 

Misc 15 70 0.449789 1.142 2.205 

Misc 14 123 0.296805 1.119 2.333 

D-T16 61 0.239123 1.177 2.292 

D-T15 174 0.726777 1.131 2.213 

D-T14 84 0.190817 1.051 2.297 

D-T13 125 2.747306 1.058 2.404 

D-T12 80 0.33687 1.118 2.38 

D-T11 71 0.21966 1.109 2.138 

D-23 62 0.521352 1.2 2.307 

NPR-A Ice Roads 17 
18 NPR-A Ice Roads 
Appendix A-2
 

Transect Permafrost Data 

NPR-A Ice Roads 19 
 

 

Profile in Centimenters 

Transect Inigok D
 

Depth to Permafrost Profile 

Inigok D Transect Cross Section 

0 

50 

100 

150 

200 

250 

Permafrost Active Thaw Area Average permafrost depth: 30.7cm 

Permafrost Range 20 to 44 cm 

Surface Profile 

Date: July 29, 2002 

Depth to Perm afrost 

Permafrost very w et 

areas 

SW 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 NE 

Meters Across Ice Road Trace 

s e g m e n t 

( m e t e rs ) 

depth 

fro m le ve l 

lin e ( c m ) 

depth to 

p e r m a fr o s t 

( c m ) notes 

64 30 

2 7 7 2 0 

4 8 4 2 8 

6 110 26 

8 9 8 2 3 

10 92 21 

12 83 34 

14 99 21 

16 102 22 

18 87 22 

20 97 25 

22 80 38 

2 4 9 0 23 w illo w 

26 90 23 

28 106 34 s m a ll c h a n n e l 

30 88 33 

32 80 38 

34 84 36 

36 113 22 

38 103 29 

40 109 26 

42 114 28 

44 135 30 

46 150 41 wet 

48 150 44 wet 

50 150 43 wet 

52 145 45 wet 

54 162 35 wet 

56 138 22 

58 134 30 

60 137 29 

62 144 24 

64 150 26 

66 153 44 wet 

68 167 40 wet 

70 140 25 

72 114 34 

74 101 36 

76 100 40 

7 8 10 7 20 w illo w 

80 94 41 tussock 

8 2 11 4 33 s m a ll w illo w 

84 131 37 

20 NPR-A Ice Roads 
0 

Profile in Centimenters 

Transect Inigok E 

Depth to Permafrost Profile 

Inigok E Transect Cross Section 

50 

100 

150 

200 

250 

Permafrost Active Thaw Area 

Surface Profile 

Pe rmafrost 

Depth to Perm afrost 

Average permafrost depth: 34.1 cm 

Permafrost Range 20 to 83* cm 

Date: July 29, 2002 

*includes w ater 

Sm all Pond 

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 

Meters Across Ice Road Trace 

s e g m e n t 

(m e t e rs ) 

depth 

fro m le ve l 

lin e (c m ) 

depth to 

p e rm a fro s t 

(c m ) notes 

112 39 

2 112 28 

4 113 30 

6 116 20 

8 110 27 

10 108 26 

12 112 20 

14 121 26 

16 108 36 

18 113 30 

20 108 30 

22 118 32 

24 107 37 

26 117 25 

28 114 27 

30 111 22 

32 115 33 

34 108 28 w illow 

36 105 29 

38 111 23 

40 120 35 w illow 

42 176 50 Inc lu d es p o nd w a te r de p th 

44 137 83 e d g e o f p on d 

46 148 48 w illow 

48 130 30 w illow 

50 139 40 

52 122 39 

54 107 43 

56 105 56 

58 119 44 

60 130 34 

62 131 40 

64 142 38 

66 137 29 

68 133 28 

70 132 38 

72 136 30 

74 140 42 

76 160 28 

78 150 28 

80 149 26 

NPR-A Ice Roads 21 
 

Transect Inigok G
 

Inigok G Transect Cross Section 

0 

50 

100 

150 

200 

250 

10 20 30 40 50 60 

Meters Across Ice Road Trace 

Profile in Centimenters 

Permafrost Active Thaw Area 

Surface Profile 

Permafrost 

Average permafrost depth: 32.6cm 

Permafrost Range 19 to 56cm 

Date: July 29, 2002 

Depth to Permafrost 

Depth to Permafrost Profile 

segment 

(m eters) 

depth 

from level 

line (cm ) 

depth to 

perm afros t 

(cm ) notes 

145 30 

2 143 36 

4 146 44 sm all drainage 

6 159 30 

8 148 20 

10 148 28 

12 142 37 

14 149 30 

16 142 27 

18 156 17 willow 2' 

20 134 50 

22 138 24 

24 132 36 willow 

26 121 49 

28 152 31 

30 144 30 

32 112 44 

34 115 22 

36 117 24 

38 109 34 

40 99 45 willow 

42 98 48 

44 108 26 

46 108 28 

48 128 30 

50 102 26 

52 107 19 

54 87 56 tall tussock 

56 103 22 

58 95 26 

60 99 36 

62 114 28 

64 110 41 

22 NPR-A Ice Roads 
Transect Inigok K
 

Depth to Permafrost Profile 

Inigok K Transect Cross Section 

0 

50 

100 

150 

200 

250 

10 20 30 40 50 60 

Meters Across Ice Road Trace 

Profile in Centimenters 

Permafrost Active Thaw Area 

Surface Profile 

Permafrost 

Average permafrost depth: 26.6cm 

Permafrost Range 17 to 39 cm 

Date: July 29, 2002 

Depth to Permafrost 

Old Beach Ridge 

Caribou Trail 

segment 

(meters) 

depth 

from level 

line (cm) 

depth to 

permafrost 

(cm) notes 

106 29 

2 110 24 

4 102 31 

6 117 34 

8 124 26 

10 124 28 

12 112 24 

14 118 25 

16 117 24 caribou trail 

18 120 28 caribou trail 

20 110 38 caribou trail 

22 114 30 caribou trail 

24 114 26 caribou trail 

26 111 26 caribou trail 

28 95 20 old beach ridge-dwarf birch 

30 117 18 

32 121 17 

34 133 23 

36 121 24 

38 132 23 willow 

40 132 23 willow 

42 134 23 willow 

44 138 22 willow 

46 131 22 willow 

48 140 20 willow 

50 144 28 willow 

52 148 32 willow 

54 147 32 

56 152 35 

58 151 31 

60 146 39 

NPR-A Ice Roads 23 
Transect Inigok L
 

Depth to Permafrost Profile 

Inigok L Transect Cross Section 

0 

50 

100 

150 

200 

250 

10 20 30 40 50 60 

Meters Across Ice Road Trace 

Profile in Centimenters 

Permafrost Active Thaw Area 

Surface Profile 

Permafrost 

Average permafrost depth: 32.8cm 

Permafrost Range 20 to 48 cm 

Date: July 29, 2002 

Depth to Permafrost 

hole w/willows 

s e g m e n t 

(m e t e rs ) 

depth 

fro m le ve l 

lin e (c m ) 

depth to 

p e rm a fro s t 

(c m ) notes 

79 28 

2 83 20 

4 76 25 

6 64 33 

8 57 36 

10 61 30 

12 100 43 hole w ith w illow s 

14 74 26 

16 75 27 

18 61 36 

20 76 28 

22 76 24 

24 80 31 

26 81 28 

28 79 33 

30 83 31 

32 94 34 

34 103 28 

36 101 28 

38 76 36 

40 91 48 w illows 

42 95 33 

44 103 45 w illows 

46 103 34 

48 106 40 

50 107 36 

52 77 45 

54 78 40 

56 96 30 w illows 

58 94 32 

60 80 31 

62 65 31 

24 NPR-A Ice Roads 
 

Transect Inigok M
 

Depth to Permafrost Profile 

Inigok M Transect Cross Section 

0 

50 

100 

150 

200 

250 

10 20 30 40 50 

Meters Across Ice Road Trace 

Profile in Centimenters 

Permafrost Active Thaw Area 

Surface Profile 

Permafrost 

Average permafrost depth: 31.9cm 

Permafrost Range 21 to 47 cm 

Date: July 29, 2002 

Depth to Permafrost 

s e g m e n t 

(m e t e rs ) 

depth 

fro m le ve l 

lin e (c m ) 

depth to 

p e rm a fro s t 

(c m ) notes 

95 30 

2 8 0 3 7 

4 110 36 

6 121 45 

8 120 31 

10 110 30 

12 109 28 

14 122 40 ve ry w e t 

16 116 45 ve ry w e t 

18 109 30 

20 116 25 

22 97 22 

24 127 47 

26 128 41 ve ry w e t 

28 121 34 ve ry w e t 

30 102 24 dry 

32 100 22 s m w illow 

34 93 34 

36 84 27 

38 72 34 

40 75 30 

42 72 28 

44 64 29 

46 46 34 

48 53 34 

50 42 29 

52 44 21 

54 37 26 

NPR-A Ice Roads 25 
none

none

Transect T5-6
 

Depth to Permafrost Profile 

Segment 

(Meters) 

Depth 

from Level 

Line (cm) 

Depth to 

Permafrost 

(cm) Notes Segment 

(Meters) 

Depth 

from Level 

Line (cm) 

Depth to 

Permafrost 

(cm) Notes 

0 100 32 none 38 120 34 none 

2 101 28 none 40 124 31 none 

4 110 30 none 42 121 30 none 

6 109 25 none 44 122 26 none 

8 117 24 none 46 121 34 none 

10 107 37 none 48 128 23 none 

12 112 33 none 50 133 15 none 

14 126 20 none 52 129 31 none 

16 125 15 none 54 126 32 none 

18 122 20 none 56 130 24 none 

20 116 34 none 58 133 29 none 

22 133 19 none 60 130 26 none 

24 132 24 none 62 135 22 none 

26 125 38 none 64 140 20 none 

28 128 27 Ice Road Damage 66 130 21 none 

30 126 35 Ice Road Damage 

34 

32 

110 

123 

37 

28 

Ice Road Damage 

Ice Road Damage 

To Permafrost: 

Average Depth 

27.35 

36 126 26 none 

26 NPR-A Ice Roads 
none

none

Transect T7-8
 

Depth to Permafrost Profile 

Depth Depth to Depth Depth to 

Segment from Level Permafrost Segment from Level Permafrost 

(Meters L)ine (cm) (cm) Notes (Meters L)ine (cm) (cm) Notes Ice Road 

0 128 30 none 38 11429 Damage 

2 128 40 none 40 10125 none 

4 137 30 none 42 10325 none 

6 134 29 none 44 9825 none 

8 139 30 none 46 8638 none 

10 141 22 none 48 6933 none 

12 142 27 none 50 6632 none 

14 141 34 none 52 6525 none 

16 145 39 none 54 5725 none 

18 138 40 none 56 5627 none 

20 138 30 none 58 6025 none 

22 134 34 none 60 6928 none 

24 133 36 none 62 6516 none 

26 126 30 none 64 6830 none 

28 125 31 Ice Road Damage 66 5931 none 

30 124 31 Ice Road Damage 68 5136 none 

32 123 32 Ice Road Damage 70 4536 none 

34 130 27 Ice Road Damage 

36 113 32 Ice Road Damage Average Depth 

To Permafrost: 30.28 

NPR-A Ice Roads 27 
none

none

Transect T9-10
 

Depth to Permafrost Profile 

Depth Depth to Depth Depth to 

Segment from Level Permafrost Segment from Level Permafrost 

(Meters) Line (cm) (cm) Notes (Meters) Line (cm) (cm) Notes 

0 89 27 Ice Road Trace Damage 30 83 28 none 

2 75 38 Ice Road Trace Damage 32 90 21 none 

4 82 24 Ice Road Trace Damage 34 79 26 none 

6 85 28 Ice Road Trace Damage 36 80 20 none 

8 92 32 Ice Road Trace Damage 38 78 14 none 

10 92 28 Ice Road Trace Damage 40 68 39 none 

12 83 29 Ice Road Trace Damage 42 82 26 none 

14 76 33 Ice Road Trace 44 70 53 none 

16 76 33 Light Damage 46 79 20 none 

18 77 42 Light Damage 48 98 34 none 

20 89 22 Light Damage 50 87 19 none 

22 88 30 Light Damage 52 82 31 none 

24 88 28 Light Damage 54 70 41 none 

26 89 26 Light Damage 56 89 23 none 

28 83 26 none 

Average Depth 

To Permafrost: 29.00 

28 NPR-A Ice Roads 
none

none

Transect T15-16
 

Depth to Permafrost Profile 

Segment 

(Meters) 

Depth 

from Level 

Line (cmLine (cm) 

Depth to 

Permafrost 

(cm) Notes Segment 

(Meters) 

Depth 

from Level 

Line (cm) 

Depth to 

Permafrost 

(cm) Notes 

0 82 31 none 28 105 25 Ice Road Trace 

2 106 28 wet 30 107 27 Ice Road Trace 

4 82 23 none 32 108 34 Ice Road Trace 

6 105 37 wet 34 122 22 Ice Road Trace 

8 100 25 none 36 121 28 Ice Road Trace 

10 116 40 wet 38 120 37 Ice Road Trace 

12 115 43 wet 40 135 23 none 

14 96 20 none 42 137 22 none 

16 104 25 none 44 152 18 none 

18 93 20 none 46 143 41 none 

20 104 28 none 48 141 32 none 

22 82 26 Ice Road Te Road Trace 50 134 33 none 

24 78 28 Ice Road Te Road Trace 52 149 27 none 

26 67 28 Ice Road Te Road Trace 

Average Depth 

To Permafrost: 28.56 

NPR-A Ice Roads 29 
none

none

Transect T17-18
 

Depth to Permafrost Profile 

Depth 

from Depth to Depth Depth to 

Segment Level Permafrost Segment from Level Permafrost 

(Meters) Line (cm) (cm) Notes (Meters) Line (cmLine (cm) (cm) Notes 

0 33 22 none 34 134 29 none 

2 45 34 none 36 149 34 none 

4 43 42 none 38 175 28 none 

6 60 36 none 40 186 30 none 

8 58 37 none 42 186 36 none 

10 75 41 none 44 221 18 none 

12 87 33 none 46 232 18 none 

14 92 30 none 48 230 23 Post for 18 

16 99 52 none 50 232 30 Extended Transect 

18 104 44 none 52 231 27 Extended Transect 

20 100 38 none 54 242 34 Extended Transect 

22 115 61 none 56 245 31 Extended Transect 

24 119 52 none 58 221 28 Extended Transect 

26 115 53 none 60 235 33 Extended Transect 

28 129 31 Approx center of Trace 62 245 29 Extended Transect 

30 123 48 none 

32 125 55 none Average Depth 

To Permafrost: 35.53 

30 NPR-A Ice Roads 
none

none

 

Transect T19-20
 

Depth to Permafrost Profile
 

Segment 

Depth 

from Level 

Depth to 

Permafrost Segment 

Depth 

from Level 

Depth to 

Permafrost 

(Meters) Line (cmLine (cm) (cm) Notes (Meters) Line (cmLine (cm) (cm) Notes 

0 22 24 none 30 117 36 Ice Road Trace 

2 20 29 none 32 110 31 Ice Road Trace 

4 33 31 none 34 125 32 Ice Road Trace 

6 42 37 none 36 108 30 Ice Road Trace 

8 42 34 none 38 103 26 none 

10 55 39 none 40 121 24 none 

12 87 28 none 42 146 32 none 

14 113 34 Ice Road Trace 44 148 25 none 

16 84 28 Ice Road Trace 46 147 34 none 

18 90 26 Ice Road Trace 48 155 42 wet 

20 92 26 Ice Road Trace 50 159 38 wet 

22 100 32 Ice Road Trace 52 124 28 dry 

24 100 34 Ice Road Trace 54 141 22 dry 

26 94 38 Ice Road Trace 56 150 35 wet 

28 115 29 Ice Road Trace 58 154 39 wet 

Average Depth 

To Permafrost: 31.43 

NPR-A Ice Roads 31 
none

none

Transect T21-22
 

Depth to Permafrost Profile 

Segment 

(Meters) 

Depth 

from Level 

Line (cm) 

Depth to 

Permafrost 

(cm) Notes 

Segment 

(Meters) 

Depth 

from Level 

Line (cm) 

Depth to 

Permafrost 

(cm) Notes 

0 110 36 none 42 125 32 Damaged Ice Road 

2 100 33 none 44 122 36 Damaged Ice Road 

4 94 31 none 46 128 32 Damaged Ice Road 

6 106 34 none 48 129 30 Damaged Ice Road 

8 110 34 none 50 124 40 Damaged Ice Road 

10 112 27 none 52 128 38 Damaged Ice Road 

12 102 36 none 54 130 26 none 

56 136 24 none 14 115 28 none 

58 140 33 none 

16 121 27 none 60 132 32 none 

18 126 25 none 62 132 33 none 

20 118 42 none 64 132 15 none 

22 121 34 none 66 132 23 none 

24 118 28 none 68 124 30 none 

26 118 32 Slight Damage 70 135 30 none 

28 123 26 Slight Damage 72 138 21 none 

30 126 40 Slight Damage 74 134 28 none 

32 126 38 Slight Damage 

34 120 22 Slight Damage Average Depth 

36 119 35 Damaged Ice Road 

38 112 36 Damaged Ice Road 

To Permafrost: 30.92 

40 124 28 Damaged Ice Road 

32 NPR-A Ice Roads 
none

none

Transect T23-24
 

Depth to Permafrost Profile 

Depth Depth to Depth Depth to 

Segment from Level Permafrost Segment from Level Permafrost 

(Meters) Line (cm) (cm) Notes (Meters L)ine (cm) (cm) Notes 

0 109 42 none 40 117 38 none
 

2 110 42 none
 42 119 33 none
 

4 99 39 none
 44 120 38 none
 

6 109 38 none
 46 119 49 none
 

8 112 39 none
 48 121 39 none
 

10 102 44 none
 50 125 40 none
 

12 110 34 none
 52 123 45 none
 

14 103 37 none
 54 128 29 none
 

16 111 43 none
 56 121 40 none
 

18 100 34 rolligon 58 126 38 none
 

20 97 34 rolligon 60 117 39 none
 

22 108 28 rolligon 62 130 28 none
 

24 120 40 rolligon 64 139 36 none
 

26 110 45 High Areas Damaged 66 140 40 none
 

28 106 42 High Areas Damaged 68 158 37 none
 

30 115 43 High Areas Damaged 70 164 28 none
 

32 113 49 High Areas Damaged
 

34 109 40 High Areas Damaged
 

Average Depth
 36 106 33 High Areas Damaged
 

To Permafrost: 38.11
 

38 130 29 none
 

NPR-A Ice Roads 33 
none

none

Transect T25-26
 

Depth to Permafrost Profile 

Segment 

(Meters) 

Depth 

from Level 

Line (cm) 

Depth to 

Permafros 

t 

(cm) Notes 

Segment 

(Meters) 

Depth 

from Level 

Line (cm) 

Depth to 

Permafrost 

(cm) Notes 

0 77 39 none 36 113 26 Ice Road Te Road Trace 

2 80 32 none 38 118 28 none 

4 83 23 none 40 112 42 none 

6 102 28 none 42 118 24 none 

8 84 27 none 44 122 23 none 

10 82 28 none 46 121 33 none 

12 78 34 none 48 121 30 none 

14 81 30 Ice Road Trace 50 128 31 none 

16 85 28 Ice Road Trace 52 133 28 none 

18 88 37 Ice Road Trace 54 136 28 none 

20 80 44 Ice Road Trace 56 135 32 none 

22 94 27 Ice Road Trace 58 145 32 none 

24 91 34 Ice Road Trace 60 153 30 none 

26 97 35 Ice Road Trace 62 157 21 none 

28 99 31 Ice Road Trace 

30 103 30 Ice Road Trace 

32 109 34 Ice Road Trace Average Depth 

To Permafrost: 30.56 

34 110 29 Ice Road Trace 

34 NPR-A Ice Roads 
none

none

Transect T27-28
 

Depth to Permafrost Profile 

Segment 

(Meters) 

Depth 

from Level 

Line (cmLine (cm) 

Depth to 

Permafrost 

(cm) Notes 

Segment 

(Meters) 

Depth 

from Level 

Line (cmLine (cm) 

Depth to 

Permafrost 

(cm) Notes 

0 97 26 none 36 133 25 Ice Road Te Road Trace 

2 95 32 none 38 134 27 Ice Road Te Road Trace 

4 105 23 none 40 132 28 Ice Road Te Road Trace 

6 110 22 none 42 132 24 Ice Road Te Road Trace 

8 98 34 none 44 140 28 Ice Road Te Road Trace 

10 101 32 Ice Road Te Road Trace 46 142 37 Ice Road Te Road Trace 

12 109 23 Ice Road Te Road Trace 48 140 29 Ice Road Te Road Trace 

14 102 32 Ice Road Te Road Trace 50 142 24 none 

16 110 27 Ice Road Te Road Trace 52 122 40 none 

18 107 41 Ice Road Te Road Trace 54 144 22 none 

20 112 23 Ice Road Te Road Trace 56 146 26 none 

22 110 28 none 58 141 27 none 

24 113 32 Ice Road Te Road Trace 60 146 22 none 

26 112 31 Ice Road Te Road Trace 62 139 40 none 

28 120 34 Ice Road Te Road Trace 64 142 35 none 

30 121 32 Ice Road Te Road Trace 

32 130 30 Ice Road Te Road Trace Average Depth 

34 125 30 Ice Road Te Road Trace To Permafrost: 29.27 

NPR-A Ice Roads 35 
none

none

Transect T29-30
 

Depth to Permafrost Profile 

DepthDepth to 

Segmentfrom Level Permafrost

(Meters)Line (cm)(cm)

03135

23133

42931

66227

89327

108233

129826

149740

1610223

1811232

2011126

2211826

2411728

2614436

none 

NotesSegment 

(Meters) 

Depth 

from Level 

Line (cm) 

Depth to 

Permafrost 

(cm) Notes 

none

none28 145 41 none 

Damage

Damage

Damage

Damage

none

36 

34 

32 

30 

141 

144 

146 

144 

38 

43 

44 

44 

none 

none 

none 

none 

none

none

Damage

To Permafrost: 

Average Depth 

33.32 

none

none

none

36 NPR-A Ice Roads 
Appendix A-3
 

Transect Vegetation Data 

NPR-A Ice Roads 37 
38 NPR-A Ice Roads 
NPRA Field Form
 Data Key
 

July/August 2002
 

Species Data 

By Stratum* 

TT= tall trees generally greater than 40

 feet tall. 

TM= medium trees generally between

 15 and 40 feet tall. 

TS= stunted trees generally less than

 15 feet tall. 

TR= regeneration trees generally less

 than 15 feet tall. 

ST= tall shrubs generally greater than

 10 feet tall. 

SM= medium shrubs between 3 and 10

 feet tall. 

SL= low shrubs between 8 inches and 3

 feet tall. 

SD= dwarf shrubs generally less than 8

 inches tall. 

GT= tall graminoids generally greater

 than 2 feet tall. 

GM= medium graminoids generally less

 than 2 feet tall. 

FT= tall forbs generally greater than 2

 feet tall. 

Severity Index 

S= Severe damage, 75-100% of the

 plants are dead or dying. 

M= Moderate damage, 40-74% of the

 plants are affected and dying. 

L= Limited damage, 10-39% of the

 plants have been affected. 

0= No or little damage, 0-10% of the

 plants show impacts. 

FM= medium forbs between 4 inches

 and 2 feet tall. 

FD= dwarf herbs generally less than 4

 inches tall. 

L1= foliose and fruticose lichens. 

L2= crustose and soil crust lichens. 

M1= mosses 

M2= liverworts 

W= water 

B1= litter 

B2= bare ground 

Cover: estimated canopy cover is to the nearest 

5 percent. If cover is between 1 and 7 percent, 

cover percent is to the nearest 1 percent. If 

cover is less than 1 percent then “T” is entered 

for trace. 

*Natural Resource Conservation Standard 

Cover Class Index 

% Cover Cover Class 

T 1 

T-5% 2 

6-10% 3 

11-25% 4 

26-50% 5 

51-75% 6 

76-95% 7 

96-100% 8 

NPR-A Ice Roads 39 
 

 NPRA Field Form

 ICE ROAD STUDY

 July/August 2002 

Transect or Site: Site D Date: 7/29/2002 

Time 11:05:00 AM 

Observers: B. Keating 

T. Hobbs 

S. Guyer 

Field Data: 

common name scientific name stratum % cover Cover Class severity index 

Dimond willow Salix planifolia sd 10 3 0 

Dwarf Birch Betula nana sd 15 4 0 

Low Bush Cranberry Vaccinium vitus-idea sd 20 4 0 

Crowberry Empetrum nigrum sd 10 3 0 

Bearberry Actostaphylos rubrua sd 15 4 0 

Mountain Bell Heather Cassiope tetragona sd 10 3 0 

Labrador Tea Ledum palustre sd 10 3 0 

Polar Grass Arctogrostis latifolia gm T 1 0 

Cotton Grass Eriophorum vaginatum gm 35 5 L 

Cotton Grass Eriophorum angustifoliumgm 15 4 0 

Sedge Carex saxatilis gm 15 4 0 

Pink Plume Polygonum bistorta fd 1 2 0 

Lousewort Pedicularis sudetica fd T 1 0 

Moss m 40 5 0 

Lichen l 15 4 0 

Water w 5 2 

Litter b1 35 5 

Bare ground b2 10 3 

Photos: 1-14 

comments: 

Little or no evidence of ice road on site. Slight impact shown in photo#4 Tussocks significantly 

recovered bust still showing some evidence of impact. 

40 NPR-A Ice Roads 
 

 NPRA Field Form

 ICE ROAD STUDY

 July/August 2002 

Transect or Site: Site E Date: 7/29/2002 

Time 1:05:00 PM 

Observers: B. Keating 

T. Hobbs 

S. Guyer 

Field Data: 

common name scientific name stratum % cover Cover Class severity index 

Dimond willow Salix planifolia sl 10 3 0 

Willow Salix arbusculoides sl T 1 O 

Dwarf Birch Betula nana sl 20 4 0 

Low Bush Cranberry Vaccinium vitus-idea sd 15 4 0 

Crowberry Empetrum nigrum sd 10 3 0 

Bearberry Actostaphylos rubrua sd 3 2 0 

Mountain Bell Heather Cassiope tetragona sd T 1 0 

Labrador Tea Ledum palustre sd 15 3 0 

Polar Grass Arctogrostis latifolia gm 1 2 0 

Cotton Grass Eriophorum vaginatum gm 45 5 0 

Cotton Grass Eriophorum angustifoliumgm T 1 0 

Sedge Carex saxatilis gm 10 3 0 

Pink Plume Polygonum bistorta fd T 1 0 

Cloudberru Rubus chamaemorus fd T 1 0 

Lousewort Pedicularis sudetica fd T 1 0 

Pyrola Pyrola grandiflora fd T 1 0 

Chickweed Stellaria crassifolia fd T 1 0 

Moss m 30 5 0 

Lichen l 15 4 0 

Litter b1 45 5 

Bare ground b2 10 3 

Photos: 15-26 

comments: 

No visable ice road damage at this site. 

NPR-A Ice Roads 41
 

 NPRA Field Form

 ICE ROAD STUDY

 July/August 2002 

Transect or Site: Site G Date: 7/29/2002 

Time 2:05:00 PM 

Observers: B. Keating 

T. Hobbs 

S. Guyer 

Field Data: 

common name scientific name stratum % cover Cover Class severity index 

Dimond willow Salix planifolia sl 20 4 0 

Dwarf Birch Betula nana sl 30 5 0 

Low Bush Cranberry Vaccinium vitus-idea sd 15 4 0 

Crowberry Empetrum nigrum sd 10 3 0 

Bearberry Actostaphylos rubrua sd 3 2 0 

Mountain Bell Heather Cassiope tetragona sd 3 2 0 

Labrador Tea Ledum palustre sd 10 3 0 

Polar Grass Arctogrostis latifolia gm 15 4 0 

Cotton Grass Eriophorum vaginatum gm 30 5 0 

Cotton Grass Eriophorum angustifolium gm 5 2 0 

Sedge Carex saxatilis gm 15 4 0 

Bluegrass Poa arctica gm 5 2 0 

Pink Plume Polygonum bistorta fd 5 2 0 

Coldsfoot Petasites frigidus fd T 1 0 

Chickweed Stellaria crassifolia fd T 1 0 

Moss m 15 4 0 

Lichen l 5 2 0 

Litter b1 60 6 

Bare ground b2 5 2 

Photos: 27-36 

comments: 

Ice road river crossing dominated by willows, dwarf birch and grasses. No evidence of damage. 

<SAPL-ARLA-ERAN-Litter> 

42 NPR-A Ice Roads 
 

 NPRA Field Form

 ICE ROAD STUDY

 July/August 2002 

Transect or Site: Site K Date: 7/29/2002 

Time 3:05:00 PM 

Observers: B. Keating 

T. Hobbs 

S. Guyer 

Field Data: 

common name scientific name stratum % cover cover class severity index 

Dimond willow Salix planifolia sl 35 5 0 

Dwarf Birch Betula nana sl 15 4 0 

Low Bush Cranberry Vaccinium vitus-idea sd 5 2 0 

Bearberry Arctostaphylos rubra sd T 1 0 

Labrador Tea Ledum plustre sd 2 2 0 

Cotton Grass Eriophorum vaginatum gm 5 2 0 

Bluegrass Poa arctica gm T 1 0 

Sedge Carex saxatilis gm 25 4 0 

Fireweed Epilobium angustifolium fm 40 5 0 

Pyrola Pyrola grandiflora fd T 1 0 

Lousewort Pedicularis sudetica fd T 1 0 

Moss m 80 7 0 

Lichen l 5 2 0 

Litter b1 15 4 

Photos: 36-46 

comments: 

No trace of ice road damage. Site is on lake margin crossing historical shorelines. Lake margin 

dominated by ERAN. <SAPL-EPAN-Sphagnum> 

NPR-A Ice Roads 43
 

 NPRA Field Form

 ICE ROAD STUDY

 July/August 2002 

Transect or Site: Site L Date: 7/29/2002 

Time 4:05:00 PM 

Observers: B. Keating 

T. Hobbs 

S. Guyer 

Field Data: 

common name scientific name stratum % cover cover class severity index 

Dimond willow Salix planifolia sl 25 4 0 

Dwarf Birch Betula nana sd 20 4 0 

Low Bush Cranberry Vaccinium vitus-idea sd 5 2 0 

Crowberry Empetrum nigrum sd 5 2 0 

Bearberry Arctostaphylos rubra sd 10 3 0 

Mountain Bell Heather Cassiope tetragona sd 15 4 0 

Labrador Tea Ledum plustre sd 10 3 0 

Polar Grass Artogrostis latifolia gm 2 2 0 

Cotton Grass Eriophorum vaginatum gm 25 4 0 

Sedge Carex saxatilis gm 40 5 0 

Pink Plume Polygonum bistorta fd T 1 0 

Cloudberry Rubus chamaemorus fd 1 2 0 

Saussurea Saussurea angustifolia fd 1 2 0 

Moss m 65 6 0 

Lichen l 10 3 0 

Litter b1 20 4 

Photos: 47-50 

comments: 

Along west side of wet area, no evidence of damage at this site. 

<SAPL-BEGL-ERVA-CATE-VAVI-Moss> 

44 NPR-A Ice Roads 
 

 NPRA Field Form

 ICE ROAD STUDY

 July/August 2002 

Transect or Site: Site M Date: 7/29/2002 

Time 5:15:00 PM 

Observers: B. Keating 

T. Hobbs 

S. Guyer 

Field Data: 

common name scientific name stratum % cover cover class 

severity index 

Dimond willow Salix planifolia sd 15 4 0 

Dwarf Birch Betula nana sd 25 4 0 

Blueberry Vaccinium uliginosum sd 5 2 0 

Low Bush Cranberry Vaccinium vitus-idea sd 5 2 0 

Bearberry Arctostaphylos rubra sd T 1 0 

Mountain Bell Heather Cassiope tetragona sd 5 2 0 

Labrador Tea Ledum plustre sd 10 3 0 

Cotton Grass Eriophorum vaginatum gm 30 5 0 

Cotton Grass Eriophorum angustifolium gm 10 3 0 

Sedge Carex saxatilis gm 10 3 0 

Cloudberry Rubus chamaemorus fd 2 2 0 

Chickweed Stellaria crassifolia fd T 1 0 

Lousewort Pedicularis sudetica fd T 1 0 

Moss m 25 4 0 

Lichen l 5 2 0 

Litter b1 15 4 

Photos: 51-55 

comments: 

No appearent ice damage at this site. 

<SAPL-ERVA-BEGL-Moss> 

NPR-A Ice Roads 45
 

 NPRA Field Form

 ICE ROAD STUDY

 July/August 2002 

Transect or Site: T5-T6 Date: 7/30/2002 

Time 4:40:00 PM 

Observers: B. Keating 

T. Hobbs 

S. Guyer 

Field Data: 

common name scientific name stratum % cover cover class severity index 

Dimond willow Salix planifolia sd 10 3 S 

Dwarf Birch Betula nana sd 4 2 S 

Low Bush Cranberry Vaccinium vitus-idea sd 7 3 S 

Mountain Bell Heather Cassiope tetragona sd 15 4 S 

Labrador Tea Ledum plustre sd 7 3 S 

Dwarf Willow Salix reticulata sd 5 2 S 

Polar Grass Arctagrostis latifolia gm T 1 0 

Cotton Grass Eriophorum vaginatum gm 40 5 S 

Sedge Carex saxatilis gm 15 4 M 

Bluegrass Poa arctica gm T 1 L 

Pink Plume Polygonum bistorta fd 1 2 0 

Pyrola Pyrola grandiflora fd T 1 0 

Saussurea Saussurea angustifolia fd T 1 0 

Moss m 40 5 M 

Lichen l 10 3 L 

Litter b1 25 4 

Photos: 10-13 

comments: 

Ice road approx. 30 ft. wide, cover % reflects entire transect. Shrubs absent or decreasing on site 

<SAPL-CATE-ERVA-SARE-Moss> 

46 NPR-A Ice Roads 
 

 NPRA Field Form

 ICE ROAD STUDY

 July/August 2002 

Transect or Site: T7-T8 Date: 7/30/2002 

Time 5:20:00 PM 

Observers: B. Keating 

T. Hobbs 

S. Guyer 

Field Data: 

common name scientific name stratum % cover cover class severity index 

Dimond willow Salix planifolia sd 10 3 S 

Dwarf Birch Betula nana sd 10 3 S 

Low Bush Cranberry Vaccinium vitus-idea sd 5 2 S 

Mountain Avens Dryas integrefolia sd 20 4 S 

Mountain Bell Heather Cassiope tetragona sd 5 2 S 

Labrador Tea Ledum plustre sd 5 2 S 

Dwarf Willow Salix reticulata sd 20 4 S 

Polar Grass Arctagrostis latifolia gm T 1 0 

Cotton Grass Eriophorum vaginatum gm 30 5 S 

Sedge Carex saxatilis gm 20 4 M 

Bluegrass Poa arctica gm T 1 0 

Pink Plume Polygonum bistorta fd 1 2 L 

Pyrola Pyrola grandiflora fd T 1 0 

Saussurea Saussurea angustifolia fd T 1 0 

Lousewort Pedicularis sudetica fd T 1 0 

Moss m 35 5 M 

Lichen l 10 3 L 

Litter b1 25 4 

Photos: 14-18 

comments: 

All shrubs in ice road area are severly affected, as are the tussocks. 

<SAPL-CATE-ERVA-SARE-Moss> 

NPR-A Ice Roads 47
 

 NPRA Field Form

 ICE ROAD STUDY

 July/August 2002 

Transect or Site: T9-T10 Date: 7/31/2002 

Time 9:25:00 AM 

Observers: B. Keating 

T. Hobbs 

S. Guyer 

Field Data: 

common name scientific name stratum % cover cover class severity index 

Dimond willow Salix planifolia sd 10 3 M 

Dwarf Birch Betula nana sd 5 2 M 

Low Bush Cranberry Vaccinium vitus-idea sd 5 2 S 

Mountain Bell Heather Cassiope tetragona sd 10 3 S 

Labrador Tea Ledum palustre sd 5 2 S 

Dwarf willow Salix reticulata sd 3 2 L 

Polar Grass Arctogrostis latifolia gm 1 2 0 

Cotton Grass Eriophorum vaginatum gm 45 5 S 

Cotton Grass Eriophorum angustifolium gm 2 2 0 

Bluegrass Poa arctica gm T 1 0 

Sedge Carex saxatilis gm 20 4 M 

Pink Plume Polygonum bistorta fd T 1 0 

Lousewort Pedicularis sudetica fd T 1 0 

Saxifrage Saxifrage hirculus fd T 1 0 

Pyrola Pyrola grandiflora fd T 1 0 

Saussurea Saussurea angustifolia fd T 1 0 

Moss m 45 5 M 

Lichen l 15 4 M 

Litter b1 25 4 

Photos: 7-17 

comments: 

Severe damage of tussocks within ice road area. Shrubs persisting between tussocks but show 

damage and reduction. <SAPL-ERVA-CATE-VAVI-Moss> 

48 NPR-A Ice Roads 
 

 NPRA Field Form

 ICE ROAD STUDY

 July/August 2002 

Transect or Site: T15-T16 Date: 7/31/2002 

Time 8:50:00 AM 

Observers: B. Keating 

T. Hobbs 

S. Guyer 

Field Data: 

common name scientific name stratum % cover cover class severity index 

Dimond willow Salix planifolia sd 20 4 S 

Dwarf Birch Betula nana sd 10 3 S 

Low Bush Cranberry Vaccinium vitus-idea sd 1 2 M 

Mountain Avens Dryas integrefolia sd 4 2 M 

Mountain Bell Heather Cassiope tetragona sd 10 3 S 

Dwarf willow Salix reticulata sd 7 2 M 

Polar Grass Arctogrostis latifolia gm 5 2 0 

Cotton Grass Eriophorum vaginatum gm 35 5 S 

Cotton Grass Eriophorum angustifolium gm 5 2 0 

Bluegrass Poa arctica gm 1 2 0 

Sedge Carex saxatilis gm 15 4 M 

Water Sedge Carex aquatilis gm 1 2 0 

Pink Plume Polygonum bistorta fd T 1 0 

Valeriana Valeriana capitata fd T 1 0 

Saxifrage Saxifrage hirculus fd T 1 0 

Moss m 40 5 M 

Lichen l 15 4 M 

Litter b1 20 4 

Photos: 1-6 

comments: 

Shrubs gone or decreasing in damaged area. Low lying areas (wet sites) within transect have virtually 

no damage <ERAN>. Higher tussocks show severe damage. <SAPL-BEGL-ERVA-CATE-Moss> 

NPR-A Ice Roads 49
 NPRA Field Form

 ICE ROAD STUDY

 July/August 2002 

Transect or Site: T17-T18 Date: 7/30/2002 

Time 10:15 

Observers: B. Keating 

T. Hobbs 

S. Guyer 

Field Data: 

common name scientific name stratum % cover cover class severity index 

Dimond willow Salix planifolia sd 5 2 S 

Dwarf Artic Birch Betula nana sd 3 2 S 

Bearberry Arctostaphylos rubra sd 1 2 S 

Mountain Bell Heather Cassiope tetragona sd 3 2 S 

Polar Grass Arctagrostis latifolia gm 5 2 L 

Cotton Grass Eriophorum vaginatum gm 35 5 S 

Sedge Carex saxatilis gm 15 4 S 

Blue grass Poa arctica gm T 1 L 

Coldsfoot Petasites frigidus fd T 1 S 

Moss m 10 3 S 

Lichen l 5 2 M 

Litter b1 55 6 

Bare ground b2 10 3 

Photos: 1-9 

comments: 

Extensive damage to tussocks (ERVA), shrubs: SAPL, BEGL & CATE dying or have almost completely 

exited the site. Some invasion or persistence by ARLA, POA to a limited extent. Litter and BG appear to 

be increasing. 

50 NPR-A Ice Roads 
 

 NPRA Field Form

 ICE ROAD STUDY

 July/August 2002 

Transect or Site: T19-T20 Date: 7/30/2002 

Time 11:00:00 AM 

Observers: B. Keating 

T. Hobbs 

S. Guyer 

Field Data: 

common name scientific name stratum % cover cover class severity index 

Dimond willow Salix planifolia sd 10 3 S 

Dwarf Artic Birch Betula nana sd 3 2 S 

Blueberry Vaccinium uliginosum sd 3 2 L 

Low Bush Cranberry Vaccinium vitis-idea sd 4 2 L 

Bearberry Arctostaphylos rubra sd 5 2 M 

Mountain Avens Dryas integrifolia sd 5 2 L 

Mountain Bell Heather Cassiope tetragona sd 10 3 S 

Bog Rosemary Andromeda polifolia sd T 1 L 

Polar Grass Arctagrostis latifolia gm 2 2 L 

Cotton Grass Eriophorum vaginatum gm 10 3 M 

Cotton Grass Eriophorum angustifolium gm 10 3 0 

Sedge Carex saxatilis gm 20 4 M 

Blue grass Poa arctica gm 1 2 0 

Coldsfoot Petasites frigidus fd T 1 L 

Pink Plume Polygonum bistorta fd T 1 L 

Pyrola Pyrola grandiflora fd T 1 L 

Woodsia Woodsia glabella fd T 1 L 

Saussurea Saussurea angustifolia fd T 1 L 

Moss m 45 5 M 

Lichen l 20 4 M 

Litter b1 35 5 

Bare ground b2 5 2 

Photos: 10-13 

comments: 

Lower wetter site than T17. Tussocks not as damaged. Low lying wet areas show little or no imapace from
 

road. Shrubs still suseptable and showing impacts or leaving site.
 

be increasing.
 

NPR-A Ice Roads 51
 

 NPRA Field Form

 ICE ROAD STUDY

 July/August 2002 

Transect or Site: T21-T22 Date: 7/30/2002 

Time 11:50:00 AM 

Observers: B. Keating 

T. Hobbs 

S. Guyer 

Field Data: 

common name scientific name stratum % cover cover class severity index 

Dimond willow Salix planifolia sd 10 3 M 

Dwarf Artic Birch Betula nana sd T 1 M 

Bearberry Arctostaphylos rubra sd 5 2 S 

Mountain Avens Dryas integrifolia sd 7 3 S 

Mountain Bell Heather Cassiope tetragona sd 7 3 S 

Bog Rosemary Andromeda polifolia sd T 1 L 

Polar Grass Arctagrostis latifolia gm 3 2 L 

Cotton Grass Eriophorum vaginatum gm 35 5 S 

Sedge Carex saxatilis gm 15 4 M 

Pink Plume Polygonum bistorta fd 2 2 L 

Moss m 30 5 M 

Lichen l 10 3 M 

Litter b1 25 4 

Photos: 14-21 

comments: 

Main ice road area through center of transect shows severe damage to tussocks and shrubs. 

Outer outlying areas adjcent to road show little or no damage. 

52 NPR-A Ice Roads 
 

 NPRA Field Form

 ICE ROAD STUDY

 July/August 2002 

Transect or Site: T23-T24 Date: 7/30/2002 

Time 1:15:00 PM 

Observers: B. Keating 

T. Hobbs 

S. Guyer 

Field Data: 

common name scientific name stratum % cover cover class severity index 

Dimond willow Salix planifolia sd 5 2 0 

Dwarf Artic Birch Betula nana sd 1 2 0 

Bearberry Arctostaphylos rubra sd 5 2 0 

Mountain Avens Dryas integrifolia sd 6 3 0 

Mountain Bell Heather Cassiope tetragona sd T 1 0 

Dwarf Willow Salix reticulata sd 5 2 0 

Polar Grass Arctagrostis latifolia gm T 1 0 

Cotton Grass Eriophorum vaginatum gm 10 3 0 

Cotton Grass Eriophorum angustifolium gm T 1 0 

Sedge Carex saxatilis gm 60 6 0 

Pink Plume Polygonum bistorta fd T 1 0 

Lousewort Pedicularis sudetica T 1 0 

Marsh Fiver Finger Potentilla palustris T 1 0 

Moss m T 1 0 

Lichen l T 1 0 

Litter b1 20 4 

Water w T 1 

Photos: 22-28 

comments: 

Transect across lower wet area dominated by Sedge & ERAN. No evidence of damage at this site. 

However, adjacent ERVA area within a few yards of transect shows damage to tussocks. 

<Sedge-ERAN-Litter-Water> 

NPR-A Ice Roads 53
 

 NPRA Field Form

 ICE ROAD STUDY

 July/August 2002 

Transect or Site: T25-T26 Date: 7/30/2002 

Time 3:30:00 PM 

Observers: B. Keating 

T. Hobbs 

S. Guyer 

Field Data:
 

common name scientific name stratum % cover cover class severity index
 

Dimond willow Salix planifolia sd 5 2 M 

Low Bush Cranberry Vaccinium vitus-idea sd T 1 L 

Mountain Avens Dryas integrifolia sd 2 2 L 

Mountain Bell Heather Cassiope tetragona sd 10 3 S 

Labrador Tea Ledum plustre sd T 1 L 

Dwarf Willow Salix reticulata sd 5 2 L 

Polar Grass Arctagrostis latifolia gm 1 2 0 

Cotton Grass Eriophorum vaginatum gm 40 5 S 

Sedge Carex saxatilis gm 20 4 M 

Bluegrass Poa arctica gm T 1 0 

Pink Plume Polygonum bistorta fd 2 2 L 

Bog Saxifrage Saxifraga hirculus fd T 1 0 

Saussurea Saussurea angustifolia fd T 1 0 

Moss m 40 5 M 

Lichen l 15 4 M 

Litter b1 30 5 

Bare ground b2 5 2 

Photos: 1-4 

comments: 

Shrubs dead or decreasing on site. Tussocks moderately to severely damaged. 

<ERVA-CATE-SARE-Moss> 

54 NPR-A Ice Roads 
 

 NPRA Field Form

 ICE ROAD STUDY

 July/August 2002 

Transect or Site: T27-T28 Date: 7/30/2002 

Time 3:43:00 PM 

Observers: B. Keating 

T. Hobbs 

S. Guyer 

Field Data: 

common name scientific name stratum % cover cover class severity index 

Dimond willow Salix planifolia sd 10 3 M 

Dwarf Birch Betula nana sd 3 2 0 

Low Bush Cranberry Vaccinium vitus-idea sd 1 2 L 

Mountain Avens Dryas integrifolia sd 2 2 L 

Mountain Bell Heather Cassiope tetragona sd 5 2 M 

Labrador Tea Ledum plustre sd T 1 0 

Dwarf Willow Salix reticulata sd 2 2 0 

Dwarf Willow Salix sd T 1 0 

Polar Grass Arctagrostis latifolia gm 2 2 0 

Cotton Grass Eriophorum vaginatum gm 45 5 S 

Sedge Carex saxatilis gm 15 4 M 

Pink Plume Polygonum bistorta fd T 1 0 

Saussurea Saussurea angustifolia fd T 1 0 

Valeriana Valeriana capitata fd T 1 0 

Moss m 20 4 L 

Lichen l 20 4 L 

Litter b1 25 4 

Bare ground b2 10 3 

Photos: 38-44 

comments: 

Tussock damage moderate to severe. BEGL and majority of shrubs found along edges of road 

where no damage has occurred. SAPL decreasing and BEGL absent on road. In some areas tussocks 

are stable but undersides are damaged? 

<SAPL-ENVA-CATE-Moss/Lichen> 

NPR-A Ice Roads 55
 

 NPRA Field Form

 ICE ROAD STUDY

 July/August 2002 

Transect or Site: T29-T30 Date: 7/30/2002 

Time 2:50:00 PM 

Observers: B. Keating 

T. Hobbs 

S. Guyer 

Field Data: 

common name scientific name stratum % cover cover class severity index 

Dimond willow Salix planifolia sd 5 2 L 

Blueberry Vaccinium uliginosum sd T 1 0 

Low Bush Cranberry Vaccinium vitus-idea sd T 1 L 

Bearberry Arctostaphylos rubra sd T 1 L 

Mountain Avens Dryas integrifolia sd 2 2 L 

Labrador Tea Ledum plustre sd 3 2 0 

Dwarf Willow Salix reticulata sd 3 2 0 

Polar Grass Arctagrostis latifolia gm T 1 0 

Cotton Grass Eriophorum vaginatum gm 25 4 S 

Cotton Grass Eriophorum angustifolium gm 10 3 0 

Sedge Carex saxatilis gm 20 4 M 

Bluegrass Poa arctica gm T 1 0 

Pink Plume Polygonum bistorta fd T 1 0 

Pyrola Pyrola grandiflora fd T 1 0 

Chickweed Stellaria crassifolia fd T 1 0 

Moss m 35 5 L 

Lichen l 15 4 L 

Litter b1 20 4 

Photos: 29-37 

comments: 

One year ice road. Narrow only about 40 ft. wide. Moderate to severe damage in affected area. 

<ERVA-Sedge-SARE-Moss> 

56 NPR-A Ice Roads 
NPR-A Ice Roads 57 
58 NPR-A Ice Roads